Full Notification

Jan. 19, 2018 -- The Harris County Sheriff Office’s collaborative violent crime initiative with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the offices of Harris County Constables Precinct 3, 4, and 5, resulted in more than 800 arrests, the confiscation of dozens of guns and significant illegal drug seizures.

The five-phase crime reduction initiative, dubbed Operation North Star, targeted high-crime neighborhoods throughout the county from April through December 2017.

Each phase of the initiative lasted several nights, and included flooding targeted communities with nearly 100 extra deputies and state troopers. The deputies and troopers, patrolled high-crime areas, conducted traffic stops, and responded to 911 calls.

“The North Star Crime Reduction Initiative proves how successful collaborations between fellow law enforcement agencies can be,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “Our success has been measured in the number of criminals, drugs, and guns that all agencies were able to take off our streets.”

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers, Special Agents and Texas Rangers participated in the initiative under the leadership of DPS Director Steven McCraw.
“Since being directed by Gov. Abbott last April to support local law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in Harris County, DPS has proudly partnered with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and others to crack down on the criminal element in the area,” said Director McCraw. “We will continue to support these local, targeted operations to disrupt the most serious threats to public safety.”

In our continued effort to make every community in Harris County a safer place, the sheriff’s office intends to embark on more crime reduction collaborations with fellow law enforcement agencies in 2018.